Support for hydraulic cylinder



March 30, 1965 w. M. FELTS v SUPPORT FOR HYDRAULIC CYLINDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 10, 1965 WA LLACE INVENTOR.

A T TORNE Y W. M. F ELTS SUPPORT FOR HYDRAULIC CYLINDER March 30, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 10, 1963 llll v at

WALLACE MFELTS i1. Arm 77 4 ATTORNEY 3 175,708 SUPPORT FOR HYDRAULIC fiYLlNDER Wallace M. Felts, Fort Worth, Tex, assignor to Fruehauf Trailer (Iompany, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed Ian. 19, 1963, Ser. No. 250,620 Claims. ((11. 214-82) This invention relates to multiple section hydraulic cylinders and has reference to supports therefor. The invention is particularly adaptable for use in garbage truck or trailer bodies wherein packer blades are moved along the length of the bodies to compress collected refuse in one end thereof and whereby maximum loads may be obtained. The width and height of such bodies are limited by state or other governmental regulations, with the result that some bodies are frequently made as long as practical in order to increase load capacity. Longer bodies require longer multiple section hydraulic cylinders, but it has been found that such longer cylinders tend to sag when extended and bend during the compacting operation.

An object of the invention is to provide a support for a multiple stage hydraulic cylinder when in an extended position to reduce sagging and buckling.

Another object is to provide a support for the described purpose which is a simplified and economical construction.

A further object is to provide a support for a multiple section hydraulic cylinder and which support may be installed in the relatively narrow gooseneck of a large trailer.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a trailer having a packer blade operated by a multiple section hydraulic cylinder mounted in the goose neck.

FIGURE 2 is a plan sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective View of a preferred form of the invention.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view of the forward end of the support illustrated in FIGURE 3 and showing the cylinder in its retracted position.

FIGURE 4A is a view similar to FIGURE 4, but showing the rear end of the support and illustrating the cylinder in its extended position.

FIGURE 5 is a reduced scale side elevational view of the preferred form of the invention in its fully extended position.

FIGURE 6 is a longitudinal section and side elevational view of a modified form of the invention, and

FIGURE 7 is a reduced scale view of the invention illustrated in FIGURE 6, but showing the same in its fully extended position.

In the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates a trailer having a pusher blade 11 mounted on the large end 12 of a multiple section hydraulic cylinder, hereinafter referred to, by means of a transverse pin 13 which extends through an integral fitting, not numbered, on the rear surface of the blade and a corresponding fitting 14 on the cylinder.

The goose neck 15 of the trailer 10 is substantially narrower than the trailer body 16 and the sides include longitudinal parallel horizontal I beams 17 on which a prime mover and hydraulic pump assembly 18 is mounted. Spaced cross members 19 of channel stock 7 extend between the I beams 17 and a longitudinal cylindrical support 20 is mounted in an opening 22 in nited States Patent 3,175,7fi8 Patented Mar. 30, 1965 the rearward beam. The support 20 shown is in the form of a tube and the end opposite the opening 22 has a flange 23 therearound for attaching the support to the forward cross member 19.

The multiple section hydraulic cylinder 24, in addition to the referred-to large section 12, includes additional telescoping sections 25, 26, 27 and 28 of succes sively reduced diameters, and the intermediate sections 25', 26 and 27 have shoulders 29, 30 and 31, respectively, around exposed ends. Bearing rings 32 and 33 are mounted around the largest and smallest sections 12 and 28 on the ends thereof corresponding with shoulders 2931 and which bearing rings make sliding contact with the inner surface of the support 20. As shown in FIGURE 4A where the cylinder 24 is fully extended, the forward or inner bearing ring 33 does not extend beyond the support rear opening where the latter is beveled, as at 35, for conveniently installing the cylinder assembly.

The cylinder 24, except the support 20 and bearing rings 32 and 33, is conventional and includes stationary hydraulic tubes 36 and 37, one within the other along the longitudinal axis of the cylinder for extending and retracting the latter. Since the operation of multiple section cylinders is well known to the art, such operation is not herein described in detail; however, as shown in FIGURE 4, there are two hydraulic lines 33 and 39 connected with an axially aligned cylindrical head 40 which, in turn, is connected (not shown) with the interiors of the stationary tubes 36 and 37. The head 40 is mounted in the forward cross member 19 and extends forwardly therefrom where the lines 38 and 39 are connected by fittings 41 and 42. The tubes 36 and 37 extend to the beveled surface 35 of the support 20 where the outer tube 37 is provided with a seal 43 which contacts the inner surface of the smallest cylinder section 28. As shown in both FIGURES 4 and 4A, the inner circumference of the forward bearing ring 33 is in sliding contact with the outer surface of the outer stationary tube 37. A transverse pin 44 extends through the head 40 and connects with the I beams 17 or other suitable stationary mounting, not shown.

The form of the invention schematically shown in FIGURES 6 and 7 includes an elongate support in the form of a tube 129 having an open end through which the multiple section cylinder 124 extends when in operation. The largest cylinder section 112 has a bearing ring 132 near its rearward or outwardly extending end, but in contact with the inner surface of the support when the cylinder is retracted. The inner or forward ends of the other cylinder sections, 125, 126, 127 and 128, have bearing rings 133 therearound which are also in sliding contact with the inner surface of the support 120. Only the outer stationary central tube 137 is shown and the head is illustrated without fittings since, as explained in connection with the herein first described form of the invention, the operation of multiple section hydraulic cylinders is well kown to the art. The extending end of the head 140 has a transverse opening 113 for receiving a pin such as 44 described in the foregoing, and the outer end of the large section 112 has a fitting 114 for connecting the cylinder 124 with a pusher blade, such as 11. It is to be noted that in this form of the invention the support 120 is not rigidly mounted, such as by cross members 19.

In operation, the cylinder 24 or 124 is extended and retracted in the usual manner and in either construction the inner bearing ring 33 or 133 serves as a support to prevent the cylinder from sagging and bucking. In the O first described form of the invention, the rigidly mounted 133 successively lend lateral support just prior to leaving the support 120.

The invention is not limited to the exemplary constructions herein shown and described, but may be used in various Ways within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Support means including a tubular open end elongate support member receiving a telescoping cylinder, the length of said support being substantially equal to the length of said telescoping cylinder in its retracted position, and wherein the largest section of said cylinder is the first section to extend from the open end of said support,

a stationary guide located along the axial center of said support member and slidably supporting the smallest moveable section of said telescoping cylinder, and

a bearing member mounted on said smallest moveable section of said cylinder and in sliding contact with said elongate support member.

2. Support means for a telescoping cylinder as defined in claim 1, and including:

means rigidly supporting said elongate support member.

3. Support means for a telescoping cylinder as defined in claim 1, and wherein:

the cylinder sections in addition to said smallest moveable section each includes a bearing member mounted thereon and in sliding contact with said elongate support member when received therein.

4. In combination with a vehicle body having a trans- ,verse pusher blade therein,

an elongate tubular support member having an open end directed toward the width of said pusher blade,

a telescoping cylinder received within said support member and arranged whereby the largest section of said cylinder is the first section to extend from the open end of said support member,

means connecting the extending end of said largest section of said cylinder with said pusher blade,

a stationary guide located along the axial center of said support member and slidably supporting the smallest moveable section of said telescoping cylinder, and

a bearing member mounted on said smallest moveable section of said cylinder and in sliding contact with said elongate support member.

5. The combination defined in claim 4, and wherein:

said vehicle body is a trailer having a goose neck at the forward end thereof, and

means rigidly mounting said support member within said goose neck,

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,663,285 12/53 Johnson .et al 91-169 2,800,234 7/57 Herpich et a1. 214--82 3,007,589 11/61 Galloway 214-82 3,049,250 8/62 Dempster et al 2l482 30 HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner. 

1. SUPPORT MEANS INCLUDING A TUBULAR OPEN END ELONGATE SUPPORT MEMBER RECEIVING A TELESCOPING CYLINDER, THE LENGTH OF SAID SUPPORT BEING SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE LENGTH OF SAID TELESCOPING CYLINDER IN ITS RETRACTED POSITION, SAID WHEREIN THE LARGEST SECTION OF SAID CYLIN- 